LETTER: Ask A&E about pavement falls

Sue Haygarth, Millpond Crescent, Chichester

I see, in an article in last week’s Chichester Observer, that West Sussex County Council has ‘no evidence to suggest damage to the pavements has been a factor in the spate of recent falls.’

That may well be the case, as they ‘have received no (compensation) claims in respect of slips, trips or falls’.

It would be interesting to see how many people had to use A&E because of falling in North Street. A great many people don’t complain to WSCC because they don’t know how to, or don’t like to make a fuss, don’t think it would make any difference or are just trying to get on with life managing their injuries.

My independent 91-year-old mother tripped in North Street in January. She spent the remainder of the day at A&E being thoroughly checked, lip glued, X-rayed etc. The treatment was excellent but how much does this problem cost St Richard’s Hospital?

While we were waiting for treatment a lady came into A&E who also fell in North Street and broke her arm.

I also had to phone to cancel a medical appointment and the person she was supposed to see had also fallen in North Street a couple of weeks earlier.

This fall has resulted in my mother lacking confidence to go out alone any more, a physiotherapist goes to her home weekly to help build her confidence and strength – again more expense for our health service.

I appreciate that Chichester is a beautiful old city and it would be a great shame to remove these old, uneven flagstones. Last year Guildford took up all the cobblestones in the High Street and relaid them, to make an even, safer but still attractive town centre. I suggest to WSCC that this would be a better course of action than waiting for more ‘defects to arise’.

I would also like to thank all the lovely, kind people who helped us in North Street that day. It is amazing the number of wonderful people there are in our community.

WSCC – take note, most of us should complain to you, otherwise how are you going to know there is a problem but most of us don’t complain, so look for the evidence in A&E, please don’t do nothing.